I'm just going to data log for fun today and get an actual reading on my boost levels. Is anyone else with an 11 wrx seeing 17~ psi with the cobb stage 1 map?

A data log is the best course of action. Looking at the peak boost through the live monitor doesn't tell you a whole lot. The log will show us what the ECU is targeting (for your conditions such as altitude, IAT) as well as how boost builds. Check out our AskCobb data logging video: